For A Smile That Can't Be Beat!

Retainer Care Tips

Posted May 8, 2018.

After you’ve undergone orthodontic treatment, you’ll want to do all you can to make sure that you keep your smile straight and perfect afterward. This is a large part of wh you’ll be instructed to wear a retainer after your treatment is over.

But wearing a retainer comes with its own requirements. If you don’t take care of it, you stand to risk your oral health and may even end up with tooth decay.

Why you need a retainerThe reason that a orthodontist will tell you to wear a retainer is to prevent your teeth from shifting after braces, or other orthodontic treatment, are completed. A retainer keeps your teeth from slipping out of place and becoming crooked again.

Retainer careHere at Orthodontic Specialists, P.A. in Lakeville, Minnesota, we see quite a few cases where improper retainer care results directly in oral health issues. These can range from gum disease to tooth loss.

This happens when a retainer isn’t cleaned properly, causing a buildup of bacteria and other debris. Most of the severe problems that Dr. Joseph Basile sees as a result of improper retainer care stem from this bacteria buildup.

To rectify that, make sure to clean your retainer every day. You’ll likely be wearing it just at night. Cleaning it once at night, and once before bed eliminates many potential problems.

Don’t let your retainer end up harming your teeth. Practice proper retainer care today. If you have other questions, call us today at 952-469-6760 to see how we can help.